Having a busy social life in your 50s could actually be an early sign of Alzheimer's, scientists warn
FOR years, scientists and doctors alike have been telling us staying social keeps Alzheimer's at bay.
But a surprising new US study suggests the opposite might be true, at least in the early stages.
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'Their social lives may even expand,' said co-senior author, Dr Ashwin Kotwal from the University of California, said.
"We don't know for sure if they are engaging more with others, or if those around them are noticing subtle changes and giving them more support.'
The study, published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology, analysed data from almost 500,000 Brits aged 40 and over, collected by the UK Biobank.
It was an observational study, meaning researchers didn't track outcomes over time, but looked for associations in the data.
Researchers calculated each person's genetic risk for Alzheimer's and compared it with their levels of social connectedness.
These scores, known as Alzheimer's Disease Genetic Risk Scores (AD-GRS), reflect a person's inherited likelihood of developing the condition, based on known genes. But they don't guarantee someone will get the disease.
They then looked at how often people felt lonely or isolated, how satisfied they were with their relationships, and how many different social activities they took part in.
Previous studies have linked lower levels of social interaction with reduced brain volume and a higher risk of dementia.
But in this new analysis, those with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's were three per cent less likely to feel socially isolated.
They also reported one per cent higher satisfaction with their family relationships and took part in around two per cent more types of social activity compared to people with a lower genetic risk.
Wife of man with early-onset dementia has to 'hide knives'
However, there was no difference between the two groups when it came to how lonely they felt, the quality of their friendships, or how much emotional support they received.
In the UK, around 982,000 people are currently living with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. That figure is expected to hit 1.4 million by 2040.
There is no cure, so spotting the condition early is crucial. An early diagnosis can help slow progression, ease symptoms, and open up access to clinical trials.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, one of the first warning signs is social withdrawal.
Other symptoms include asking the same questions repeatedly, losing track of important dates, and increasingly relying on memory aids or loved ones for tasks once managed alone.
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